Imagine A Day Without Water

Water works hard- for you, your family, your community, and the planet. From brushing your teeth to growing your food, water makes everything work. This year, we want to see how you imagine a world where water works. Make every drop count through your art!

The City of Charlottesville, Albemarle County Service Authority, and Rivanna Water & Sewer Authority held the 11th annual Imagine a Day without Water Art Contest this fall 2025. Each year, we ask youth to show us why we must value and save water in our community. This year’s art contest continued to allow for flexibility to ensure our entire community can participate in our contest and provide an opportunity for the youth in our community to learn and illustrate how water works.

The 2025 Imagine a Day without Water asked youth to illustrate how “Water Works.” Judges from the City, ACSA, and RWSA evaluated the artwork for creativity, originality, and incorporation of the contest’s theme. Of the 530 poster entries received from youths in Charlottesville and Albemarle County, one winner was chosen from each of five grade divisions and one winner was also chosen for best photography. The top 75 entries were made available to the public for online viewing and voting of a favorite art entry. With 1,385 total online votes, a fan favorite was selected. All seven winners will receive a $200 gift card and a water conservation goodie bag.  

The winners of the 2025 Imagine a Day without Water Art Contest are:

• K – 2nd Grade: Adam Zouari, Mountain View Elementary School, Age 5
• 3rd – 4th Grade: Anna Ramsay, Mountaintop Montessori, Age 9
• 5th – 6th Grade: Lydia Jones, Henley Middle School, Age 11
• 7th – 8th Grade: Ellie McWhorter, Village School, Age 12
• 9th – 12th Grade: Natalia Salazar Fraire, Charlottesville High School, Age 14
• Best Photography: Jackson Reeve, Monticello High School, Age 16
• Fan Favorite: Kinsleigh Breeden, Henley Middle School, Age 11

Teachers were encouraged to promote student participation, and four teachers were rewarded for their efforts with a $200 gift card to be used for classroom projects: 

• William Westen (Mountain View Elementary School)- Most Entries
• Holly Tucker (Tall Oaks Elementary School)
• Dustin Harris (Monticello High School)
• Jessica Catlin (Albemarle Montessori). 

You can learn more about the Value of Water Coalition and the National Imagine a Day without Water Campaign on their website.